Me too.  That’s why I forwarded the original message.  Maybe it will help keep someone else from getting into the same situation as this guy. 

 

Mark

Do Not Archive

 

 

Hi Mark, I still hate to see that happen to anyone, it's totally uncalled for. Fred



At 08:42 AM 5/10/2006 -0500, you wrote:

Fred,
 
Thanks for the offer, but the story is second-hand.  It was posted on the Lancair list today by a fellow Lancair owner.  Sorry I didn’t make that clear. 

Mark
 

From: Rotary motors in aircraft [ mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of CCI
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 8:39 AM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: FW: [LML] FBO Gouging
 
Hi Mark, You should of let me know you were coming, I could of got you to the Derby and the hotel, no problem. Atlantic is that bad without the derby going on, unfortunately. You should of went to Bowman (KLOU) or Clark Co. (KJVY) where they still have some sense (most of the time anyway). Your not the only complaint I've heard, offering free tiedowns for Derby turned out to be nothing but a dirty trick. Let me know if your up this way again, if nothing else I can get you to the right place where that won't happen, again. Fred   










At 07:53 AM 5/10/2006 -0500, you wrote:

Not rotary, but worth passing along anyway. 
 

From: Lancair Mailing List [ mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Stuart Seffern
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 7:29 AM
To: Lancair Mailing List
Subject: [LML] FBO Gouging
 
Warning!
 
I flew with a friend to the Kentucky Derby on Friday to KSDF and blew a left main tire tube half way down the runway on landing.  I called Atlantic Aviation, the only FBO on the field, a week before to ask about costs saying we were coming in for the Derby weekend.  They said there were no landing fees if you buy gas and only a $5/night tie down.  They also had free crew cars!  Great!
 
It took 1 hour to arrive and tow us off the runway by using a hand dolly under the tire and the tug tied onto our tow bar because they did not have the correct adaptor.  Atlantic then wanted to charge me $200 for the tow, without asking first.  There were no tie downs.   We could have easily walked the airplane off the runway with the small hand wheel dolly.  Then they wanted $500 for their maintenance shop just to take a look at it plus $75/hour to pull the tire, replace the inner tube and reinstall the tire.  Remember, Atlantic has no competition on the airport.
 
Wait, it gets better!  I respectfully declined Atlantic Aviation's $800+ offer, and took the tire to the auto parts store where I replaced the tube for 10 dollars, plus a 10 dollar tip to Eric, the counter guy who let me use his work bench and tools for free.  I then found a gas station and filled the tire to what the gage said was 45 psi and reinstalled the tire on the airplane with two friends lifting up on the wing with their backs, no jack!
 
When the airplane was lowered the tire looked a bit flat so I checked the pressure and found the actual pressure was 30 psi!  I then walked over to Maintenance... five guys who were doing nothing but standing around.   I politely asked if they had a portable air tank because I needed just about 10 pounds of pressure in order to safely take off.  They went into conference for ten minutes while Jim and I stood there and then emerged to say that they would "sell me the air" for $150! 
 
So, It was back to the auto parts store to buy a $30 air tank, and the gas station for air. 
 
Now we needed gas....
 
6.25/gal for 100LL!!...   Also respectfully declined, at this point not wanting to give them my credit card number.  We would stop on the way home if necessary!  
 
Also, no free crew car or even a shuttle ride the 3 miles to the Churchill Downs.  A Hertz Rental cost us $271.56 for a 27 hour rental with the AOPA Discount!  (Glad I bet that $2 on Barbarao to win the Derby!)
 
Of course there is no recourse except telling this story.  It is the best "Consumer Protection" we have!  Repost this wherever you like.
 
Buyer Beware!  Atlantic Aviation's FBO at KSDF is the worst case of gouging I have seen in 30 years of flying! 
 
Thank god for experimentals that we can repair ourselves!
 
 
Regards,
 
Stu Seffern
www.Lantzairflyers.com
sseffern@yahoo.com